Our main project is the reforestation of 70 acres of severely eroded land. We are working to recreate the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest indigenous to our area. This forest type is found only in Southern India and Sri Lanka and provides a rare biological richness due to its very high species abundance (over 1000 species of trees, shrubbery and liana). The Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest is now close to total extinction, with only 0.01% of the original forest surviving. We are working to keep this rich and beautiful forest on earth.
Reforestation and water conservation are two ways we practice our compassion to nature. In the past few years we have added new ways. The first, Children’s Land, opened in 2010. It is a space for local children from underprivileged backgrounds to come explore and use freely as their own. The second, the “Goshala” (Animal Sanctuary), opened in 2016, is a retirement center for injured and/or abandoned animals. Most recently, in February 2018, we opened the UniverCity of Compassion, a recurring residential program providing a free learning environment for discovering and nourishing ideas for compassionate action. It is open for people of all ages and walks of life.
We practice an eco-friendly way of life including veganism, alternative construction, solar energy, biodegradable toiletries, compost toilets and conscious consumption. All who stay here are expected to be mindful of their purchases and avoid generating waste if possible in order to fulfill our goal of being a zero waste community.
In Sadhana Forest we eat a pure vegan diet, which means no animal products from living or deceased animals. We eat fruits, vegetables, whole-grain brown and red rice, millets, herbs, spices, beans, and dal, and source as much as is possible from local and regional organic farms.
For more information about our work please visit www.sadhanaforest.org.
Our dynamic community is composed of people of all ages and backgrounds, from all over India and from all over the world. We have found that living and sharing in a communal atmosphere brings us into harmony with nature and with ourselves; as one of our community members commented when she left, “May there be many forests to grow people.”
We welcome and accept everyone who wishes to get involved with us, any time of year, and we always have plenty of space available and plenty of work to do! You do not need to have a background in forestry or water conservation in order to enjoy and participate in our seva.
We engage in seva (selfless service) for about 25-35 hours a week. Our seva primarily consists of reforestation and water conservation, as well as general tasks that sustain the project as a whole. The reforestation work consists of preparing mounds for tree planting, planting trees, watering and mulching young trees, inspecting trees for fungal, bacterial, or other attacks, brewing home-made organic fertilizers and insect repellents, applying them, and caring for trees in our tree nursery. The water conservation work consists of building and repairing bunds, swales, trenches, and gabions. Our main goal is to use natural, low-tech landscaping methods to sequester water in the aquifer below, then to plant and care for young trees until they tap into the aquifer and begin to sustain themselves.
Sadhana Forest is managed by its Project Director who has been appointed by and reports to the Founder and International Director of Sadhana Forest. The Project Director decides on all matters of the project including health, safety and security.
All guests are asked not to smoke cigarettes (including both local “bidis” and electronic cigarettes), use drugs, or drink alcohol, inside or outside of Sadhana Forest, during their entire stay!
A residential project: people live here as their primary home.
An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).
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